Family Makes the Ride Worthwhile

[weathering_it]

Certain things have changed on Naugus’ grounds since the last time Viatorus paid the Ixis a visit. A few structures have been built in the chao garden to give them refuge from the cold during the winter, wooden lean-tos and tiny mock homes complete with mini doors and chao-height windows with tiny shutters to close them. The largest body of water has been made safer with a low bridge to cross it. And now that spring is arriving and the ground is warming slightly it seems that a few furrows of ground have been prepared for later planting. In fact, all around the castle the ground has been disturbed or cordoned off with low fences to mark future sites of gardens to be.

And of course the greatest change of all must be the dozen Overlanders taking up residence on the grounds. Each of them is busy, not paying mind to the time or to the inevitability of guests arriving but working on their future gardens or mending clothes or ensuring the stability of the chao homes. Each of them is dressed in plain beiges, browns, and reds, and they all look like they’ve stepped directly out of the 1930s with their suspenders and cabbie hats, though their overly-thick gloves and heavy boots should be familiar to Isidor as Azerothian vogue. Evidently they live inside the tower, as no human structures have been built for them to stay, though they have added a few comforts for themselves. The most obvious is a massive, U-shaped outdoor benched table designed to comfortably sit the entire family and potential friends. And right now, that table has been set for a meal.

It seems all the dishes and utensils are made of the green crystals Naugus is known to conjure, which makes the whole affair of eating at an oversized park bench uncharacteristically classy. No food is set out yet, but someone is already sitting at the table. Someone perhaps not quite human. She can’t be more than three feet tall, though her seat on the bench has been specially designed to rise her up to a comfortable level. Her arms are long, her legs short, and her head, with its pixie cut, naturally pink hair, is disproportionally large compared to her body. Frankly, she’s got the proportions of a human baby with the face of a woman in her thirties. Isidor might recognize her as a gnome, and like any good gnome she’s busying herself with a stack of schematics and calculations spread across her plate (and the neighboring ones as well.) Now and then she looks up from her writing to check the path to the tower in hopes of catching sight of the promised guests.

When she finally sees them she hurries to weigh her papers down with her plate. She leaves the bench in a hurry and scuttles over to them before they get too far onto the property. Rather than extend a hand for a shake or even bother to greet them she puts one hand on her hip and holds the other palm up to stop them.

“Before you two sit down, listen: Harrowheart isn’t going to be here. He stopped by earlier to say they’re extending his shift in Acherus, so he’s out there…” she waves her hand and flippantly guesses, “Eating souls? I thought it was only right to tell you before they noticed you, in the event you wanted to leave. Which I hope you don’t, if I might be so bold? Some of them really want to meet you. Especially Odilia, and I hate disappointing her.”

Comments

[heirtothearcane]

At Isidor's instruction suggestion the two Durants are dressed more casually than first introductions to the family of a friend would usually call for. She is dressed in a dark skirt and blouse while her brother wears a navy tweed suit. The lack of a reaction as they approach causes a slow build of uncertainty right until the gnome approaches. Her appearance baffles Viatorus far more than Isidor who ignores his querying look to pay attention to her warning. Her brow twitches in and out of a frown, but she settles on a pleasant smile. "Of course we'll stay. We'd both very much like to meet everyone."

[weathering_it]

Isidor's response gets a broad smile from the gnome, who immediately turns, cups her mouth, and shouts, "Hey, humans! Your guests are here!" She beckons the Durants to follow her then as she trots back toward the table.

The humans, meanwhile, all stop in their work when they're called. Mostly they're smiling, eager to meet new faces, quick to pull off their work gloves and hang them with their hats on fenceposts. Nobody is in overmuch of a hurry to come close and get a good look at their guests except for one face they already know – Anna. She half-jogs over, trying to be quick without looking too excited, and she arrives with a buck-toothed smile on her blushing face. She's clearly been hard at work all day, judging by the way her braided hair has half come out and her pants are stained darkly at the knees from kneeling in dirt. And she's conscious of her appearance in a way the rest of her family isn't. She tugs at her pants – careful not to dirty her hands – and laughs self-consciously as she looks over Isidor and Viatorus.

"You both look so nice! Viatorus, you're even in a suit!" Isidor gets a broad smile that shows no hint of ill feelings remaining after their last, unfortunate parting, but it's Viatorus who gets the longest look over. It's the first time she's seen him looking his real self – and likewise the first he must be seeing of her. There's something charmingly novel about meeting someone for the first time twice, and it brings a little sparkle to her eyes. The only truly unexpected thing is realizing she's as tall as he is...

She extends her hand to him and softly reintroduces herself. "Anna. You remember when we met, right?" Next she gestures to the gnome standing near. "And I see you've already met Tamminy?" To Tamminy she adds, "Thanks for keeping an eye out for them, Tams."

Tamminy hops into her seat before she snaps and fingerguns at Anna. "Anything for you, babe. Pluuuuuus, it got me out of manual labor."

The rest of the family patiently takes their seats at the table, ushered and coordinated by the eldest man and woman – certainly Mr. and Mrs. Weatherhill. They're all content to allow Anna and her friends to have their moment of greeting before overwhelming them with a dozen new faces.

[heirtothearcane]

The sudden yelling gets Viatorus to flinch, but he's quickly following after Isidor and their guide as they head to the table. He's also busy trying not to look as uncertain as he feels while Isidor beams at Anna's approach. It only gets harder when he realises he's being inspected and the introduction is a great relief which shows in his smile. "Anna! I-I didn't recognise you!"

"It's good to see you again, Anna," Isidor says before turning to smile and dip her head to the gnome. "It's lovely to meet you Tamminy." She glances to the boxes in V's hands and then grins at Anna. "I hope you don't mind. We brought some dessert."

If she's at all related to Harrowheart she won't, right?

[weathering_it]

Both Durants get another good-natured smile from Anna before her attention floats down to the mysterious desserts. She looks at the box and with a laugh says, "That was kind of you! I'm sure it'll be enough for everyone, but if it's not we just won't give Lawrence any."

And that's about the time her parents, having sat the rest of the family down, arrive to be the first to meet these new guests.

Mrs. Weatherhill is a short woman compared to the rest of her family, suntanned from her years in Westfall and pear-shaped in her age. Her face doesn't much resemble Harrowheart's, round as it is, though she has his thin eyes. If her short-cropped hair was ever blond like his it's long since faded into silvers and whites. A bit of color flushes in her cheeks as she looks between the Durant siblings, smiling like their very presence is a gift.

Anna carefully takes the dessert boxes from Viatorus, freeing up his arms just in time for her mother to take him delicately by both hands. "You must be Viatorus," she says with a gentle smile. Her accent isn't strong at all, much more like Anna's. Harrowheart must be an outlier in that regard. "My son never told us you were such a handsome young man!" She looks at him a while longer, the light in her eyes bright and proud as if he were her own son. She pats the top of his hand and giggles before moving on to Isidor.

Her hands go on Isidor's shoulders as she looks her up and down, measuring her without judgment and smiling softly all the while. Eventually she takes Isidor's hands in the same way she had taken Viatorus'. "And this is Isidor... My, you both have such lovely faces!" She gives Isidor's hands a little squeeze before she lets them go and finishes it all by introducing herself in a hurried way, as if she was in the habit of forgetting that. "My name is Odilia, and my husband," she glances back to nod at him, "Is Hardtman. You can call us by our first names, but my son tells me you're both very formal. We won't mind being Mrs. and Mr. Weatherhill, if that makes you happy."

Her husband in the background nods along just once. When his wife steps aside he comes to greet the Durants, starting with Isidor. He's a tall man, much like his son, and despite his age is still quite physically fit – no doubt due to all the work he does. His blond hair is dusted with grey and looks light against his well-tanned skin. His face is long like his son's, but the cut of his short-trimmed beard makes his jaw look more square and masculine. He doesn't smile as openly as his wife, but there is a little twist at the corners of his lips and a light in his eyes that says it all.

Mr. Weatherhill offers Isidor a firm shake, mindful not to be too firm and come off rudely. He nods at her and, with the faintest smile and an incredibly quiet voice, says, "My son tells me you're a very hard-working woman, even if what you do is very different from what we do. He seems to think very highly of you." He moves on to Viatorus then and shares with him that same strong but measured shake. "And I've heard you're a kind young man and a talented mage, but more importantly you're a good friend. It's a pleasure to finally put faces to your names." He pauses then, thinks something over, and with a little grin adds, "I'm also told neither of you like to be hugged, so stop me if I forget my manners."

[heirtothearcane]

Viatorus is quick to thank Anna when she relieves him of gift carrying duty. They're reasonably large boxes and his arms are not used to carrying, well, anything. This relief is quickly replaced by surprise at the sudden appearance of this older woman. She looks and sounds so friendly, taking his hands into hers in a warm, foreign gesture of welcome. He's so busy blushing that he forgets to say anything before she's turned her focus to Isidor.

The elder Durant is a little more ready for the familiar greeting. More practiced at receiving and giving welcomes, she smiles warmly in return and allows Mrs. Weatherhill to get a good look at them. Hardtman's greeting is one she's far more used to and his handshake is returned with a firm one of her own.

"While we're here we are more than happy to respect your customs." Here she mirrors his grin. "Hugging included." She looks between them. "It's an honour to meet you both. Harrowheart has always spoken so fondly of his family and he's been a good friend to both of us."

Viatorus nods and smiles in agreement. Isidor has always been better at the introductions and it's become habit to let her take charge of them.

[weathering_it]

Hardtman's smile is subdued, but it's there. Isidor has said all the right things, and of course Viatorus has said nothing wrong (having said nothing at all.) He's fairly sure he likes these two. Yet something Isidor said causes a strange flash of discomfort on Odilia's face. It's there and it's gone, the sort of minute wince someone makes when they hear a note sung off key.

Anna leads them all to the table and helps her mother and father take their seats at the outer center of U-bent table, while Isidor and Viatorus are ushered to the inner center. It seems while the introductions were going on someone took the time to bring the food to the table, but no one has taken any for themselves yet. Tonight's dinner is a pot roast, but each individual element has been separated for everyone to take from as they please. Serving bowls heavy with carrots, potatoes, celery, onions, and shredded beef sit heavy, waiting to be shared, and each person has been ladled a serving of the roast's broth in a small bowl. Everyone currently seated looks expectantly at the Durants, while only Tamminy eyes the food.

On one side of Isidor and Viatorus sits a woman around 30 years of age with a build similar to her mother, heavy in the hips and chest, her face lightly freckled, her hair pulled back. Anna introduces her as Robin, and Robin offers a hand to shake, smiling. Next to her is a dark-skinned woman with a Roman nose, Indian from an Earth perspective and wearing all black. "And her partner, Estella," Anna says. Estella is content with giving a brief smile, polite wave, and a simple "Nice to meetcha," in an accent that the Nexus translator decides ought to sound Australian.

Next to them are two young men around the Durants' ages, both blonde and tanned, each noticeably less muscular than the rest of the family. The youngest, effeminate-looking one Anna introduces as Matt, and he waves shyly in response, then quickly dips his head. Next to him is Michael, who smiles and nods, quiet like his father.

On the other wing of the table, past Anna and Tamminy and an empty seat, is a little family of their own. The woman and her husband are both in their mid-thirties, and both quite good-looking. In fact, the woman hardly seems to be related to the rest of the very plain-looking, long-faced Weatherhills. She's a classical beauty, once you get past the naturalness of being without makeup or styled hair. Her husband, too, is handsome in a rugged way – deep black skin, short, tightly-curled hair, sharp cheekbones, and thin, almond eyes. Sleeping against his chest is a swaddled baby that can't be more than a few months old, and next to his wife is a girl of about eight. Her skin tone is midway between both parents' and her hair done up in two puffy pigtails is a slightly blonde brown. While her parents, whom Anna names Jacob and Heather, smile warmly and express their excitement at meeting new friends, their daughter squints suspiciously. She's the most dubious-looking eight-year-old. She surveys the Durants for a few long seconds before she starts looking around for someone or something she seems to be expecting. Whoever or whatever it is, it doesn't appear immediately, which disheartens her.

Anna laughs in slight embarrassment at this and explains, "And that's Kenny, and her new little brother, Elias." Then, more quietly and just for the Durants to hear she whispers, "Don't mind her, really. She was just really hoping Ixis Naugus would show up if we were having other guests. She's obsessed with him." A fact which amuses Anna greatly, judging by her smile.

When all is said and done and Anna finally seats herself it becomes obvious that one seat right by Tamminy remains unfilled. Someone who ought to be here is missing...

[ixis]

The looming tower that backdrops the gathering has been sealed and silent for some time, hasn't it? Sure, there are incidents the Weatherhill family could speak of where lightning strikes occur or dark clouds heavy with unshed rain gather. But they're few and far between and perhaps the only indicators that the resident wizard is still alive and doing...whatever he's been doing this whole time.

So imagine the surprise to be had when the green crystal door splinters and suddenly spreads open, allowing the mobian mage to stalk out quickly. Ixis Naugus doesn't even seem to notice the gathering at first, striding with busy purpose, staff in hand, towards the chao garden. He's in the process of plucking some up and gathering them in his arms (much to the chaos' delight, their beads changing to hearts in appreciation) when he freezes. Then straightens up. Then looks.

A long pause, more than what is conversationally normal, happens as Naugus surveys the situation.

"...Dinner?"

The two chao he already has in his arms are squealing and clapping with delight.

[heirtothearcane]

While Isidor takes her seat with her usual collected manner, Viatorus fidgets, flattening out creases in his trousers and shirt, and does his best to resist turning to look at everything around him. The introductions are a welcome focus and both Durants turn their attention to handshakes, waves and greetings. As the names are given Isidor checks them off of her mental list and adds the new ones. There are two names not yet mentioned... Ah, yes, Harrowheart said Hope had stayed behind which means...

Isidor's eyes turn from the empty seat to Odilia and Hardtman. "Will Lawrence be joining us?"

Naugus' entrance is sudden and jarring in the midst of the peaceful scene. But of course he'd appear for food. Viatorus brightens and gives a small wave. "Hello Naugus!"

[weathering_it]

Naugus' arrival turns heads. It's been quite some time since most of them have seen the man, but their stares are mostly of pleasant surprise and less so gawping at the man. Some even go so far as to wave!

Kenny immediately launches into action. Like a crazed beast she leaps from her seat and hurries over to fill a plate and bowl with food for Ixis Naugus. Mrs. Weatherhill laughs as her granddaughter's little arms fly. Before she gathers it all up she stealthily removes a folded piece of paper from the pocket of her overalls, which she slips under the plate of her offering. She jogs over to Naugus to deliver it silently. How he's going to carry two chao and a plate of food remains a mystery, but one she's confident he's going to solve.

Mr. Weatherhill gives Naugus a respectful nod of acknowledgement before he turns to Isidor and assures her, "Lawrence will be here. And on his best behavior, I hope..." Despite being the father of the family he doesn't seem too confident in his ability to keep his son in check.

[ixis]

Naugus acknowledges the greetings and waves with a distracted grunt and upward jerk of his chin. "Is there an occasion or holiday I'm unaware of or..." He asks even as he's bending his knees to pick up a third chao and maneuvering it into his arms. This one isn't nearly as delighted with being held, a grumpy expression crossing the little blue critter's face as he goes limp.

The offering of food draws the wizard's attention once more, looking at it with a thoughtful frown. "Ah. I see. Thank you." Arms full of chao and staff, Naugus frowns even more when he considers his options...and soon nudges a summoned gust of wind to lift the bowl from Kenny's hands and hover it just behind his right shoulder. The slip of paper is left fluttering by itself, where Naugus snatches it with the fingers of the hand holding his staff. Thumb pushes it open and he beholds the stunning crayon-and-pencil rendering of himself firing lightning bolts into a stone mountain, causing the whole thing to crack from top to bottom. He studies it, then turns to look down at the girl again, unsmiling.

"This is excellent."

[weathering_it]

Kenny closes her eyes and affects an incredibly serious demeanor. She raises her eyebrows and frowns like a shrewd businesswoman. Naugus gets one quick nod from her before she confidently powerwalks back to the table, her head held high. When she's with her family once more her mother pats her back encouragingly while her father smiles at Naugus. For better or worse (definitely worse) they appreciate his encouragement of their daughter.

That's when one more human approaches the table from the chao garden. As he passes Naugus he gruffly grunts "'S'not a holiday, Ixis. Harrowheart invited his friends over and ditched our asses to entertain them."

For the uninitiated, this must be Lawrence. He's about as tall as Harrowheart and bears a striking resemblance to his younger brother, apart from a few obvious details. He wears thick-rimmed, square glasses, has foregone the 'fashionable' sideburns for a patchy, short beard, and his right arm from the elbow down has been replaced with a mechanical prosthetic. For having such a simple, very robotic aesthetic it must be fairly advanced, because it moves as naturally as any flesh-and-bone hand might.

Lawrence squeezes in between the Durants and Robin, who yelps when she's suddenly hip-checked and forced to scoot to the side. Lawrence levels a tired, emotionless stare at whichever Durant is unfortunate enough to be closest to him. Up close it's obvious the ways in which he differs from his brother – the small details like the dimensions of his nose, the angle of his eyes, the total contempt for life. The little things.

After his disinterested look is through he leans back and tells Anna, "Hope I gave y'all enough time to talk shit about me before I sat down, but if you need a few more minutes I'll shove off a while."

Anna, in response, remains quietly embarrassed until she musters the wherewithal to say, "No, Lawrence, just... Sit and eat with us... And enjoy it?..."

[heirtothearcane]

Hardtman's uncertainty immediately gets Isidor curious and her smile is almost, almost, accompanied by a raised eyebrow. She's just about to give a polite acknowledgement (while weaving in a compliment about their meal) when the man in question makes his entrance. The immediate impression is not a good one, but she quietly resolves to reserve judgement. For Harrowheart's sake. And her temper.

Beside her Viatorus watches Kenny's excited scrambling with his own curiosity and can't resist grinning at her interaction with Naugus. He's still distracted by the cute little exchange when the final member of their dinner arrives. Surprised, he blinks at Lawrence as the man sits down next to him. He sounds more confused than he means to when he says, "Hello..."

Somewhere in the back of her head Isidor finds herself irked that Lawrence isn't sat next to her (where she could control his interaction with her brother). She takes a breath and cements her smile. "I'm afraid that if Harrowheart hadn't invited us we would have been inviting you to visit." She turns back to Odilia and Hardtman. "We've both been very eager to make everyone's acquaintance."

[weathering_it]

While some at the table look excited at the prospect of an invitation to their brother's friends' place, others aren't quite so sure. Odilia shows a mannerly smile and nods, but Hardtman, though he inclines his head respectfully, has to intervene. "A very kind offer, and one we'll have to remember, but I'm not sure I'm ready to visit other worlds just yet. It's been enough for some of us to come to a place like the Nexus. Though, maybe when we've really settled in here we'll take you up on it."

Robin insists, "We'll bring our own food, don't worry. We wouldn't make you feed all of us."

And speaking of food Lawrence takes this as his cue to grab the nearest plate and start dishing himself a portion. When he's through he passes the serving bowl to Viatorus to do the same, and others at the table follow suit in portioning their meat and vegetables.

As Odilia sends the potatoes down the line she looks left and right at everyone assembled and says, "Remember, before we eat Matt is going to want to thank the Light." Lawrence looks askance at Viatorus and rolls his eyes at the notion, but remains quiet as his mother continues.

"And I was wondering..." she says, at once hesitant and hopeful as she looks around again, lingering a while on the Durants to watch their expressions, "If we could call him by his real name? B-because you know we always do in private, and it's such a habit, and only I'd hate to be the one to slip up. So I thought it might be best if we just..."

She's looking at you, Viatorus, Isidor. Everyone is, actually. Lawrence with furrowed brows, Tamminy with wide eyes, brothers and sisters all leaning forward to hear the final judgement. Only Anna isn't looking at them, but is instead focusing intensely on getting just the perfect amount of carrots. She is not part of this conversation!

[heirtothearcane]

Like Hardtman, Isidor inclines her head in polite acknowledgement of his decision. It's a fair one and she's not about to argue. The more time she has before they visit the more time she has to figure out how she might make them feel more comfortable in a place like her home. As if to emphasise this impending clash of culture, Robin pipes up and Isidor smiles kindly at her. No she's not going to say anything in return lest she appear to be bragging.

Besides, there's food being passed around and both Durants fall into a quiet murmuring of 'please's and 'thank you's. The mention of a prayer gets a curious look from Viatorus that turns equally puzzled by Lawrence's expression while Isidor nods at Odilia in acceptance and approval. Both of them find themselves a little stunned by the next request. Viatorus hesitates. They didn't ask Harrowheart about this. They should have. They should now. He looks to his sister to suggest that they make a quick phonecall to make sure it's all right.

"Yes, of course you could," she says before he can interrupt. There's a sharpness in her eyes that's not quite hidden by her mannerly demeanour. It only takes a side glance for her to notice Viatorus' surprise and disapproval, so she focuses on Odilia again and adds, "You must feel comfortable in your own home."

[weathering_it]

The struggle between the Durants ends with Odilia smiling in relief – maybe even vindication? – and everyone else returning to a comfortable posture once more. Well. Mostly everyone. Tamminy remains upright, stiff and uncomfortable, her eyes on her food and her mouth now and then opening in an attempt to say words that won't come. Lawrence looks down shaking his head in silence.

Eventually Tamminy finds it in her to say what she'd been wanting to. Rocking the boat isn't easy, but she's at least going to attempt it. Looking between Odilia and Isidor she forces some cheer into her slightly shaky voice.

"In Gnomish culture it's completely normal to change one's name multiple times throughout one's life. We name ourselves after our great discoveries, journeys we've taken, or trials we've undergone. It isn't meant as disrespect to our birth names, but a way to represent changes in our own lives." A change which, judging by Odilia's purposefully ignorant expression, is one which some are refusing to acknowledge.

Discouraged, Tamminy falls silent. She looks at Isidor but quickly looks away. She should have said something before the Durants – one of them anyway – made their final decision. With an ineffectual shrug she distracts herself with her plate and goes to take a bite of dinner.

"Wait!" Matt shouts from the far end of the table. Tamminy stops abruptly, food halfway to her open mouth. She drops her fork when she remembers. Right... Prayers...

Everyone sits up and folds their hands on their laps – including Lawrence, who, though he may be a crusty knob-end, is a man who doesn't mind entertaining the eccentricities of his siblings... Even if he did roll his eyes about the whole affair.

Matt clears his throat and keeps it blissfully quick and almost too quiet to hear at the farther ends of the table. "Today we thank the Light, the power of life, for everything we've been given today. For imbuing Naugus with generosity in his heart to shelter us, for the futures we've been given thanks to the heroes you filled with conviction and bravery in the face of darkness, and for the friends we're about to make because of the compassion you've given them."

When he unfolds his hands the rest do the same, and none of them hesitate to finally eat.

[heirtothearcane]

Tamminy's explanation of her culture gets a bright, interested smile from Viatorus. At least someone agrees with him that they should call Harrowheart what he was introduced to them as, but between Isidor and the rest of the family it looks like they've been outvoted. Maybe he can just... not hear the name?

He's still searching for a way around the badly made decision when Matt begins his prayer. Both Durants are more than familiar with religious ritual and they are quite comfortable with folding their hands and bowing their heads until the prayer is said.

Once it's all said and done and everyone begins to dig into their dinner, Viatorus only has one solution to the problem his sister has made: Distraction. Easier done because of his genuine curiosity. He looks around the table, trying to catch Matt's eye. "Um. Is... Is the Light... Is it the sun?"

[weathering_it]

Matt laughs delicately at Viatorus' question and shakes his head, smiling. "Not the sun, no. It's one of the major forces of the universe, along with the Shadow. Every living thing is connected by it. People who believe in it can learn to channel it."

Robin pipes up excitedly to say, "Matt got it the other day!" When she sees her brother covering one cheek with his hand she insists, "Don't act all humble, I saw it."

He hesitates before he admits, "I've just been inspired, that's all. It's nothing at all like being a mage, all the years of study that takes..."

Anna sets down her fork and explains, "When the Legion came to Westfall we left our house in a hurry in the middle of the night. We didn't know where to go, so we went to the ocean nearby, because we thought we might find a boat and maybe the demons wouldn't be able to swim. By the time we got there heroes from all over Azeroth had already started arriving on gryphons and wyverns or through portals."

At the other end of the table Jacob leans in. "There were Horde on the beach. Horde! We didn't know what to do. We thought for sure they came to pick folks off as we all ran away from the demons. But... They didn't." A fact which still confuses him.

His wife shakes her head. "They ushered us in!" she says, still shocked herself. "They were watching over other people, humans like us who'd left their land and caravans to run for the ocean. I remember there was an orc dressed in red leather just like they always tell you they wear, and a tauren woman who turned into a horned lioness."

"And the paladin!" Matt says, suddenly so eager to speak. "A blood elf woman with a sword and a shield. She cast the Light to heal our wounds and exorcised demons just by pointing her hands at them!" His cheeks flush with his excitement and he can't stop himself from throwing out an open palm to demonstrate. His nearest brother leans back, but fortunately no magic comes from his hands and dinner resumes accident-free.

"We weren't raised religious," Matt explains, which brings no hint of embarrassment from the rest of his family – it's just a fact. "But when I saw what she could do, I just knew... For the first time in my life, I really felt like I had a calling!" Even with all of his energy his voice is hardly as loud as a normal conversational tone. Maybe he isn't Harrowheart's brother after all?

With a confident nod he declares, "I'm going to be a paladin. A Knight of the Silver Hand! I want to be able to do what that woman did, saving innocent people, defending the world against demons. I'm going back to Azeroth once I'm able to conjure the Light whenever I want. I'd like to learn to swordfight, too, but Peter won't teach me..."

[heirtothearcane]

Despite the gentle laugh, Viatorus barely feels the wash of embarrassment at asking a potentially obvious question. No, he's far too distracted by trying to understand this new phenomenon, and then by the epic tale the Weatherhills present him with. He might as well be a child awed by a fantastic fairy tale, the way he looks between each of the tellers with wide eyes as they pass the story between each other. Matt's excitement is contagious and Viatorus finds himself smiling brightly, even laughing a little at the enthusiastic hand gesture… that is until Peter is mentioned.

Where her brother hesitates, Isidor turns to pay close attention. She had been listening, of course, but she remained properly gentle and mannerly in her smiling. The sharpness is back in her eyes again.

"What is it like to summon the Light?" Viatorus asks quickly. His gaze is fixed on Matt, but he no doubt knows that his sister's mouth had just opened to ask a question. "Is it divine magic? Do paladins work with mages at all?"

[weathering_it]

"It's so warm!" Matt says, surprised and pleased by the revelation. "When I had it in my hand -- even though it was just for a second or two -- my whole body felt comfortable. It was like being in front of a hearth. Everything was calm, and everything felt right. It's definitely divine magic." But the question of whether or not paladins work with mages has to wait for a bite of potato to be enjoyed before it's answered.

"Paladins can't usually do the same magic as mages?" he says, though he's uncertain about it. "I don't think, anyway... I've never met a real paladin, except for the one who saved us? And the only mage I ever knew was the one who went around Westfall conjuring ice and cinnamon rolls if you gave him a place to stay."

Anna quickly interrupts to add, smiling, "We know two having dinner with us."

Matt nods eagerly. "And now you two. But anyway I don't see why the Knights of the Silver Hand wouldn't work with the Kirin Tor? And I know that there are mages and paladins in the Stormwind Army who work together. Do paladins on your world work with mages?"

Actually, this raises a good question. Tamminy pipes up before the Durants can answer, "Harrowheart," because she's going to continue to use his real name, "Says that on your planet, mages live in seclusion apart from society. Which got me wondering... What's the... Excuse my wording, 'point' of being a mage where you come from? Why pursue magic without it having an application to society?"

[heirtothearcane]

It's difficult for Viatorus not to become entranced by the other's description. Listening to Matt talk about it is like rediscovering magic all over again. The joy of it is worth being patient for. Tamminy's question is one that gets him to hesitate, and his eyes slide to Isidor who seems to sense that this is her cue.

She doesn't immediately look up from her dinner as she begins to answer. "We're not in complete seclusion. We are just more discerning than most about who we interact with. Viatorus still helps non-mages from time to time, for example." She takes a small bite of her dinner, chews, swallows, and then turns to Tamminy properly. "And we can't choose to be mages in the same way you can't choose to be a gnome. There is no purpose to it. It is what we are, it's as simple as that. Pursuing magic builds our magical society, and expands our ability to help future mages and non-mages alike, but it isn't a choice. You are or you are not."

Viatorus waits a beat to make sure Isidor's speech is over before he turns to Matt again. "And we don't have paladins on my world. We have divine magic, but no paladins."

[weathering_it]

Isidor's explanation strikes a chord with Tamminy that's lost on the humans. She frames her face with her palms and grins at what she hears. "You're mages from birth! Genetically? Oh, my! That's incredibly interesting! My ex-wife was a professor of biology and her closest colleague was obsessed with discovering the potential genetic links that connect some people to the ley lines more strongly than others. Oh, if he could have been here he would have been pestering you two for a blood sample." She shrugs one shoulder and chuckles, shakes her head and gets back to the meal. She, at least, seems to have no interest in drawing any precious Durant blood. One hopes...

Meanwhile Matt smiles at Viatorus, interested in that little tidbit of information he's given. "They're new for us, too. We didn't have paladins on Azeroth until the Second War, which was right around when I was born. That's when the Silver Hand was first founded."

Lawrence, his mouth half-full of food, comments, "To fight the orcs and kill their death knights, right?"

Well, that quiets Matt right up. He looks down at his food immediately and resumes eating in total silence, blushing with embarrassment at his brother's blunt commentary.

Lawrence, however, continues speaking as casually as can be. He points his fork at Viatorus and says, "Harrowheart says you're a dream mage." Tamminy opens her mouth, and though Lawrence can't see her he must have expected it, because he raises his voice as he continues, "DOCTOR PHOTOVOLT SAYS dreams are just thoughts you have when you're asleep."

"They aaaare!" she strains. "Trust me, I know neurology! You can see neurons firing in sleep the same way they do during thought in wakefulness!"

"Oh?~" Lawrence asks, leaning back, locking eyes with Tamminy. "I can see it? 'Cause I've never seen it, Tamminy. Can you show me right now?"

Tamminy clenches her fists. "Lawrence! I'd need a magnetic resonance machine for that! You know I don't have one!"

Lawrence raises his eyebrows and tips his head. "So I can't see them, which means you're proofless. Annnnd since I'm a stupid human peasant who thinks everything is maaaagiiiic... I'm gonna trust the wizard on this one." He looks to The Wizard then and holds his robot hand palm-up as he waits for answers. "Is a dream just a thought you have when you're asleep, or what?"

Tamminy grits her teeth and watches Viatorus in desperation. You're killing her! You're all absolutely killing her.

[heirtothearcane]

"I'm not sure he would have been so excited about the paperwork involved with that request," Isidor quips lightly. She smiles, but she's only partly joking. Durant blood is more precious than diamonds, or ancient scrolls.

Viatorus blushes slightly on Matt's behalf, and nearly goes cross eyed watching the fork being pointed at him. Beside him Isidor tenses, but Lawrence is more interested in concocting an argument than starting a physical fight. As much as she wants to help him out of the spotlight, she can't see a graceful way to do it, so she watches the three of them while Viatorus squirms under their gazes.

"Yes, and no," he says eventually. "I've seen scans of dreamers before, and I know what the brain looks like when it's dreaming. It is a series of thoughts, b-b-but it's also much more than that. People are much more than that. The body, mind, soul, and will... They're all interconnected. While we're asleep they're the most connected, because the subconscious mind is free of the conscious one. In dreams we are our honest selves, our True Selves, in a sense. With all of us, neurons and will together."

[weathering_it]

Listening to all of this thoughtful talk brings a pleased little giggle from Mrs. Weatherhill, who may or may not follow but is certainly charmed to hear all of it. Tamminy nods thoughtfully and a smile grows on her face as she listens to his perspective. It's an interesting one, and one which she's ready to accept – especially given the fact that it supports her own understanding, at least in part.

"So, if I'm following..." Lawrence says, then clears his throat. "Tamminy's part right... Which also means she's part wrong... That's really all I could have hoped for."

He goes back to eating and Tamminy massages her scalp. She should have known that stupid reply was coming. As a consolation Anna reaches past Isidor and pats V's shoulder gingerly. "I thought it was a very good description. Thank you, Viatorus."

That little pause gives Lawrence enough time to concoct an unsavory thought. He grins, hurries to swallow his food, and blurts out, "When Harrowheart used to write us he told us all about his dreams."

Odilia lowers her brow thoughtfully as she recalls his letters. She begins to shake her head but before she says anything Anna challenges him, "No he didn't? I remember he... Said that when you're in Outland you can hear the sound space makes? And that it's hard to get to sleep?"

Lawrence, on the verge of laughing, presses the issue. "No, yeah, he definitely told us all about his dreams... His dream to fuck a goat!"

While Mrs. Weatherhill's eyes go wide and fixate on her food Mr. Weatherhill barks, "Lawrence!" Lawrence only laughs, and both Robin and Michael join him. Jacob whispers something in his daughter's ear, but she's as unfazed by the language as her father's excuses.

Anna leans forward to get a look at Lawrence and scolds, "Are you talking about Farina? Don't talk about Farina like that!" She puts her hands flat on the table and assures Viatorus and Isidor, "He never made love to a goat, I swear."

A few seconds of silence pass before Tamminy leans back and whispers behind the Durants' backs to Lawrence, "I knew his game was bad, but he couldn't even score with a goat?..." Lawrence wheeze-laughs and leans over for a low five, which Doctor Photovolt is more than happy to supply. Hardtman looks on in grave disappointment but says no more.

[heirtothearcane]

The compliment from Anna and the general agreement from some of the others encourages Viatorus more than Lawrence's twist. While he doesn't approve of using the topic of dreams to hurt someone, it does make a change from the subject being mocked altogether. Besides which, the mention of Harrowheart's dreams catches both of the Durants' attention again. Isidor chokes on her drink when Lawrence delivers his punchline, and Viatorus goes stock still and tomato red.

Isidor is still struggling to breathe, but needs to get out a, "What?" before her mind runs away with the mental image Lawrence has so happily supplied.

[weathering_it]

"Don't worry, it's cute, I promise," Robin assures with a knowing smile. "You see, when Peter left Westfall he wrote to us all the time about all the strange things he saw on the way to the Dark Portal and past it, into Outland. Back then I thought it was so wild, leaving home and going straight to another world." She chuckles and shrugs one shoulder. "Now that I'm living it I realize life is pretty much always business as usual all the time, no matter what. ...Except in those rare moments where you're running for your life."

She waves away that brief aside and continues telling the story. "Anyway. When he got to Outland he met the people who lived there, right? Folks who called themselves Draenei, which he told us meant 'exiles.' They'd spent thousands of years battling the Burning Legion, and by the time the Alliance got to Outland there were hardly any of them left."

Matt leans forward and quietly, politely interrupts to add his own details. "There used to be more of them until the orcs killed them. Peter told us that when you step through the Dark Portal you walk down a thousand-stair flight of steps, and when your feet finally hit the ground it crunches under your boots, because it's all just... bones. There's a road that stretches through the desert for miles and it's all made up of the skeletons of Draenei sacrificed by the warlock Gul'Dan to power the Dark Portal."

Robin continues, "The orcs call it the 'Path of Glory.' Isn't that grotesque?" Estella next to her shakes her head. "Barbaric. Evil," she mutters. Robin nods, then continues with her story. "Anyway, when he finally met living Draenei and stayed in their village with the rest of his unit he realized right away that he loved everything about them. Their language, their culture, their technology. They didn't have much left after it all, but he said what they did have was more advanced than anything he'd ever seen. They had all sorts of futuristic inventions powered by magical crystals. In the swamps of Zangarmarsh they built cities inside of the mushrooms that grow up as tall as the Stormwind Cathedral. They even had space ships once! That's how they traveled the stars fighting the Legion."

Lawrence clears his throat and sets his hands on the table. "You're missing the point," he says gruffly. "You're telling all these pointless story details. The point is that they look like goats."

Anna reaches across and cuffs him on the back of the head, but he doesn't retaliate. He said what he wanted to say and no punishment can erase the facts.

"They don't look like goats," Anna explains delicately. "They just... Have goat legs. And horns on their heads. And tails. But not goat tails? He said they look like lizard tails, sort of? And their skin is smooth, like a human's, but they're sky blue or pitch black or perfectly white. Their eyes glow white because they're all full of the Light. And he said all the women were gorgeous, just like magical people from another world are supposed to be. And there was this one that he met, a woman named Farina – who sounded very nice and shouldn't be called a goat!" Lawrence gets a side-eye here.

"Peter and his unit stayed in Farina's village for a year to help the Alliance gain ground in Outland. They became really close. He wrote to us all the time to tell us about life there in the village with the Draenei and Farina. We learned everything about her." She laughs as some of the others at the table nod their heads almost mockingly. Evidently they heard a lot about this woman.

"I sort of wish we could have met her," Heather admits, which gets more genuine nods. "She loved plants and taught my brother all sorts of strange things you can do to make them grow differently. They used to go animal-watching in the forests, which he said he liked because it was nothing but quietness. If it weren't that they were on a different world I'd have thought it would get boring after a while, all the stuff she liked, but he never made it sound that way. I could tell he was happy there. Really at peace. Even though we weren't there with him, it felt like we knew him more through that year of letters than we ever did growing up with him."

Matt and Michael most of all seem to agree with that sentiment, but every adult at the table nods quietly along with them.